Plastic slug forming and feeding mechanism



July 23, 19460 B. D. ASHBAUGIH I LASTIG SLUG FORMING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 26, 194$ 2.0 7 wf 30 ,7 2.6; A

F INVENTOR BERNARD 0 ASHBAUGH ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1946 PLASTIC SLUG FORMING ANDYFEEDING MECHANISM Bernard D. Ashbaugh, Mount Gilead, Ohio, as-

signor to The Hydraulic Development Corp Inc., Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application July 2c, 1943, Serial No. 496,170

This invention relates to injection machines, and particularly to a machine wherein preformed and compressed charges of plastic material can be produced for delivery into the injection chamber of the machine. I

An object of the invention is to provide a combination pellet or briquette forming machine and injecting machine. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination machine in accordance with the foregoing object wherein the preformed and v compressed charges of plastic material areproduced in such a manner that the quantity. of material ineach charge of plastic material is gauged according to the quantity of material that is ejected from the injection cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination machine for forming pellets or briquettes of flock material that are subsequently fed to the injection cylinder of the machine for use in an injection molding process.

Another object of the invention is to provide an injection machine that i adapted to operate upon a continuous cycle of operation wherein preformed pellets or briquettes of plastic material are fed into the injection chamber of the machine having predetermined quantities of plastic material in each of the preformed charges gauged according to the Volume of material ejected from the injection cylinder so that there will always be a substantially constant quantityof plastic material remaining in the in-- jection cylinder after each cycle of operation wherebyvto insure complete filling of a mold or to gradually elevate the temperature of a plurality of charges of plastic material as they pass through the injection cylinder for ejection therefrom into a mold.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination pellet or briquette forming injection machine wherein the pellet or bri Claims.

quettes are formed in the machine during the tic material that was ejected by the injection plunger duringa strokeof operation thereof,

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination pellet or briquette forming and injection machine wherein. the pusheback pressure for the injection plungeroperates the pellet forming apparatus so that plastic material can 'be delivered into the pellet forming apparatus, andwherein the push-back pressure for the molds of the machine is used for compressing a charge of plastic materialinto a pellet of a predetermined size and for feeding the formed pellet or briquette into the injection chamber of the machine.

Fu he Obj t d ad nta w be m apparent from the drawing and the following der t on- Inthe drawing: 1

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration, partially in cross section, of a machine and hydraulic system incorporating the features of this invention.

v Figure 2 is a view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 to illustrate the position of thebriquette forming apparatus when plastic material is being fed thereto.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified arrangement of hydraulic system that can be used in co-operation with the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

In this invention the combination briquette forming and injection machine consists of a body [0 having an internal bore ii that aligns with the internal bore of an injection cylinder 12, the

injection cylinder l;2 being suitably secured to the body- Ill. The injection cylinder l2 may be heated in any conventional manner to raise the tem perature of plastic material as it passes therethrough in order to plasticize the same and place it in condition for ejection througha suitable nozzle B into the mold members 14 and l5 when the mold members are in closed position.

An injection plunger It ,is connected to and is operated by a double-acting hydraulic motor 11 that has conduits l8 and Him supplying fluid under pressure to opposite ends of the hydraulic motor I7 in accordance with the setting of the 4-way valve 20.

The mold l4 isimoved toward and away from the mold I5by means of ,a ram 21 that extends from a double-actinghydraulic motor 22. Conduits 23 and 24 are-connected to opposite ends of the hydraulic motor .22 .'forsupplying iiuid i 28 and 25.

tional fluid pump that is adapted to produce pressure and which may be regulated "to deter-I for filling the same. for the rollers 4| to prevent the plastic material I from following the rotation of the rollers and 3 for causing the material to advance into the feed opening 38.

A pump 39 is connected to a reservoir 26 by means'of a conduit 21 to draw fluid from the 1 reservoirand for supplying the same to a pressure line-28 that connects with a supply line 29 connected to the inlet side of the 4-Way valves The pump 39 may be any convenend of the cylinder 46 when fluid under pressure slows mine the maximum pressure that will be produced 1 Y g by the pump38 in the supply line 28. One form of conventional pump is thewell-known variable" I whereby to control the maximum pressure delivered by the pump 38, Such variable delivery constantpressure pumps'are well-known in the.

art and will not be further disclosed.

The 4-way. valve, 28 for controlling the flow reservoir 26 by means of the conduits 35 and 36 to conductfluid'to the-reservoir from either end "of the hydraulic motors I! and 22 in accordance with the setting of the 4-wayvalves in conven- 1 tional manner aswell-known in theart.

Theapparatus for preforming briquettes of hopper 39;

cates with the cylindrical bore that receives transfer into the in- 1 of fluid to the hydraulic motor I! is connected 4 to the conduits l8 and |9,'respectively forsupv plying fluid. to these conduits according to the setting of the valve. A pressure reducing'valve I. 33 is provided inthe conduit I8 whereby the pressure in the conduit between the valve 33 and the hydraulic motor I! will be less than-the pressure 1 in the supply conduit 29 that is passed through V l the valve 28. A check valve 34 is arranged to 1 by-pass the pressure reducing valve 33 when fluid 1' is to flow through the conduit .|8 to the reservoir. 3 The 4-way valves and 28 are connected to the plastic material for feeding to the injection cyl- 1 j inder H. of the injection machine consists of a cylindrical bore 31 that has a vertically arranged 3 feed opening 38 communicating with a material The cylindrical bore 31 communicates with an opening '40 that in turn communi- A pair of rollers 4| are reversely rotated by means of an electric motor 42, in the direction of the arrows on the rollers 4|, whereby plastic 5 3 material in the hopper 39 is 'fed downwardly through the feed opening 38 into the bore 31 Scrapers 43 are provided A plunger or ram 44 reciprocates in the bore 5 t 31 and is provided with a-piston head- 45 that 1 reciprocates in the cylinder 46. A second plunger or ram 41 spaced from the plunger or ram 44,

also reciprocates in the bore 37 and has apiston head 48 that reciprocates in the cylinder 49.

A conduit 50 connects with the conduit I8 whereby pressure fluid that is applied to the 1 the plunger 44 moves in a leftward direction-the push-back side of the injection motor I1 is apl plied to theright-hand end. of the piston head 48 for advancing the piston in a manner to be hereinafter described. A conduit 5| connects the motor 22.

the molds l4 and I5.

conduit 50 will be also supplied through the conduit 5| to the right-hand end of the piston 45 to advance the same in a leftward direction in a manner hereinafter described.

7 A conduit 52 connects with the conduit 24 that supplied fluid to the push-back side of th mold operating motor 22 whereby pressure'fluid will be supplied through the conduit 52 to the left-hand is supplied to the push-back side of the hydraulic A conduit 53 connects with the cylinder 49 at a point intermediate between the .left and right-hand ends of the cylinder and is uncovered by the piston 45 when the same moves to the right-hand end of the cylinder 46 so that the push-backpressure admitted into the cylinder'46 through the conduit 52 will be supplied through the conduit 53 into the left-hand end of the cylinder 49 for moving the piston 48 in a rightward direction in a manner to be hereinafter described.

- The operation of the apparatus thus far' described will be as follows? Referring to Figure '1,

under pressure will b supplied from the conduit 29 into the conduit 23 thereby closing the mold l4 upon the mold 15 and clamping the same in closed position. 2 a l I ii The 4-way valveZfl-is then shifted so that'fluid under. pressure will be supplied from the conduit 29 to the conduit I9 thereby causing thelinjection plunger 16 to ,move through an ,advancing stroke to move the briquette 55 forwardly into the cylinder bore ,II and force plastic material from the injection cylinder 2, that has previously been heated therein in conventional manner, into .U o e n of t e i tion st ok ,of'the injection plunger IS, the 4 way valve 28 Will be shifted to supply fluid under pressure from the conduit 29 into the conduit E8 to cause retraction of the injection plunger IS. The fluid under pressure supplied to the push-back" side "of the hydraulic motor I! to retract the injectionlplungv er IE will also be supplied through the conduits 53 and 5| to the right-hand ends .of the'cylin'de'r's 49 and 46 whereby to move-the pistons 48 and 45 in a leftward. direction'JfThe piston148 will bot-t tom upon the end of the cylinder"49 inthe'man ner illustrated in Figure 2, while *the,piston"45 will abut against a stop member 561th'at' isprovided in the left end wall of the :cylinder 46, and

will be hereinafter described;

plastic material in the hopper 39 will be moved downwardly into the cylinder bore 3! as the plunger 44 retracts in a leftward movement The plunger 41 carried by the piston 48 will stop in a position to close the left-hand end of the feed opening 40 from the cylinder bore "31, the plungers 44 and 41 thusbeing in the position as illustrated inFigureZ. W

It will be remembered that all of this'foregoing operation will be p'erfOrmed'duringthe retraction' stroke ofthe plunger |6.J.i'1.f "ijy The reducing valve '33 provides a'p'ressurejreduction between the line 29 and the line |8 so that the pressure inthe: line I 8 will always be below, the maximum pump'pressure that stands will herein the supply line 29' for reasons which inafter become apparent.

When the injection plunger I6 begins itsIretrac-' tion stroke the 4-Way valve 25 is shifted whereby fluid under pressure is conducted from thesupply line 29 to the conduit 24 to be applied upon the push-back side of the mold operating motor 22 thereby withdrawing. the mold. l4-fr0m the mold l5.to permit ejection of 'thearticle that has been castor molded therein. The vpressureiin the line 22 will also be supplied throughzthe. conduit 52 to the left-hand end of the cylinder 4.6,it being J pression of the plastic material. will continue until the pressure on the plastic material: is su'flicient to overcome the push-back pressure in the right-hand end of the" cylinder 49, it; being. re-

membered that the pressure reducing valve 33.

maintains the pressure in the push-back line.l8

below pump pressure that is 'beingflsupplied' through the conduit 52. The compressed charge of plastic material between the ends of theplungers 44 and 41 will be moved in a rightward direction under this compression until the piston 45 uncovers the conduit 53 to permit the push-back pressure in the conduit .52 and cylinder. 46 to enter the conduit 53 and thereby supply the same pressure to the left-hand end of the piston 48. When this occurs, both plungers 44 and 41 will move in a rightward direction at the same speed so that the briquette of plastic material that has been formed between the plungers will be brought into alignment with the feed openin 40 and will thereby drop throughthefeed opening 49 upon the top of the injection plunger l 6 if the injection plunger has not completed its retraction stroke. As soon as the injection: plunger completes its retraction stroke, whereby the plunger will be in the position as illustrated in Figure 1, the briquette 55 will dropinto the cylinder bore and thus the. machine will be ready for another cycle of operation. Y

The stop member 56 is a part of a mechanism for regulating the rearward position of the piston 45 whereby to control the quantity of plastic material that is disposed between the plungers 44 and 41 when they are in the position, as illustrated in Figure 2, the mechanism associated with the stop 56 being provided to regulate the size of the briquette in accordance with the quantity of plastic material that is ejected from the injection cylinder I2 upon each stroke of operation of the injection plunger I6 so that there will always be a predetermined quantity of plastic material remaining in the injection cylinder I2 after each stroke of operation of the injection plunger,'variextending through an arm 58 that is secured to the injection plunger I6, th arm 58 sliding over the rod 51 upon forward movement ofthe injec tion plunger. A collar 59 is securedto: the rod .51, as by means of a'set screw, that is engaged by the arm 58 when the plunger Iii-strokes in a forf ward direction. If the quantity'ofplasticmaterial in each of the briquettes that is fed into the cylinder bore l.l remainsconstant, the 'arm 58 will just strike the collar 59 but will cause no movement of the rod 51. However, such conditions are not'obtainable in practice because the density of plastic material fed into the cylinder bore31 varies somewhat, so'that thellength of. the briquette, formed between .theplungers 44 and .41 varies upon each operation of the briquette forming apparatus. l A

Th opposite end of therod 51 carries a piston 60 that operates in a cylinder 6| that communicates with the push-back pressure line 24' of-the mold operating motor 22 by means of the conduit 52 whereby'the piston 65 Will be moved into the outward position against a stop 63 that is engaged by the collar 64 when push-back pressure stand in the line 24.

The rod 51 is also provided with another'collar 55 associated with the collar 64 that receives a yoke 66 therebetween that is on one end of-a bell crank lever 61 pivoted by means of a pin 68. The

opposite end of the bell crank lever receives one end of anarm 69 pivoted thereto by means of a pin 10, the opposite end of the arm 69 being pivoted to a stroke control-member 11 by means of a pin 12. I I i The stroke control member 1| is provided with 7 an angularly inclined surface 13 that engages a similarly inclined surface 14 provided on a supvided on the end of the stop member 56 By regulating the position of the stop member 56 it will be apparent that the rearward position of the plunger 44 can be controlled to vary the space be tween the plungers 44 and 41 and thus regulate the quantity of plastic material fed between these members and compressed into a briquette'.

As previously mentioned, if the arm 58' does not cause movement of the collar 59 there will be no operation of the strok control apparatus. How ever, when the arm 58 strikes the collar 59 toward the end of the injection stroke and moves the same in a leftward direction, thereby moving the rod 51, the bell crank lever 61 will be rotated-in a clockwise direction to move the stroke control member 1| upwardly along the inclined surface 14 and thereby permit movement of the stop member 56 when the piston 45 strikes the same upon a return movement thereof and thus increase the space between the plungers 44 and 41 to increase the quantity of plastic material fed between the same and thereby form a larger. briquette on this particular stroke of operation of the apparatus.

When the push-back pressure is applied to' the motor 22 through the conduit 24, the samepressure will be applied within the cylinder 61 to move the piston 60 in a rightward direction until the collar 64 strikes the stop 63 and thereby reposition the collar 59 on the rod 51 to' its initial starting position. 3 The location of the collar 59 on the'rod 51 is governed wholly by the quantity of'plastic material that is required to fill the mold' cavities' so thatit the quantityaequired to -fil1' them old cav- 3 ities: should. bexless ine some instances 'than'zother's the 'positioniof'i-the collar on 'thelrodgil'rwillbe 1 changed vso.:that the initial startingtposition of the collar 59, Willthus varylaccording tothe? quantity 3 of plasticsmaterialthat is to be forced into the moldcavity. x;

Whilerthe. principaldescription I beeni-Iin l for producing this operation whereinxtwopumps 1 9 ,andgfill'are'provided, I 1 Y supply to the conduits l8, and I9 vwhilethe pump 1 dint-82 to the sway-valve 25 for supplying fluid under pressure through'the conduits l3 and 24. Both pumps 19 and 80 may receive their supply of fluid from the reservoir 83- through the conduit 84;: ,7, y The pump 80 is provided with'a control mech- I anism 85 connected tothe-pressure conduitu8l by means of a conduit v86 awhile the pump'19 is I {The pump 80v su plies 7 fluid under pressure through the conduit. 8| ;to-the v4-way. valve 120' for HI supplies fluid :underpressurethrough theecon provided with anontrol mechanism 81 thatiscgnnected. to the pressure line 82 by means of the conduit 88, The control mechanisms 85 ands! j for the pumps 80 and 19, respectively, may be set jto operate'these pumps atidifferent pressures whereby thepump 19 supplyingfluidqunderpressure to the mold: operating-motor 22 can operate at a higher pressure than the pumpiBU that supplies fluid under pressur to the injection plunger operating motor H. ,The pumps, 19' and 80 may be, of course,'0f.the variab1e delivery (constant pressure type of "pump. 1 When the hydraulic. system disclosed in Figure 4 is used in conjunction with themachine heretoforel described theoperation :of the machine and system is the sameqas heretofore referred ;to. e

While the apparatus hereinbefore disclosed and described, constitutes a preferred form of .the invention, yet, it: is to, be understood that various imechanical operations may be incorporated in the apparatus without departing from: the spirit ,of the invention, and that all such modifications as fall within the scope of thepappended claims are intended vtoloeincluded herein. V Having thus fully described .;.my, invention what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V s V v 1. A molding machine that includes in combifnation, an injection moldingapparatus includin a'mold and injection means for forcing material into the mold, fluid motor means for operating jsaid injection means ,to force plastic material ;from the injection apparatus'into themold associated therewith, fluid motor means for opening and closing the mold,v a fluid power circuit operatively connected to" both of said motor means for operating the same, through an ad- Ivancing stroke and; a, push-back stroke, a lbriquette forming apparatus constructed asan integral part of said injection apparatus consisting of a briquetting cylinder having an open- ;ing therein communicating with saidjinjection apparatus through: which briquettes are; fed

, 8 7 injection rapparatus through 1 the said; opening; independent fluid motor means for operating said pairioi plunger means in said briq'uette forming apparatus to produce a briquette therein; means hydraulicallyfconnecting the push-backside of said-.fluidimot'or of said injection apparatus with oneside'of-eachiof the pair of independent motor means; for operating said independent motor means together to "position said plunger means for "receiving plastic material therebetween, and means: hydraulically connecting the oppositeiside of'feachirofsaid: independent fluid motors with thepush-back sideof said-mold operating fluid motor to actuatethe'sam'e for compressing plastic materialzbetween: saidplunger means.

2.:A molding machine that includes in combination, an injection-molding apparatus including a moldand injection means for forcing'mate'rial into the mold, fluid motor means for operating said injection means to force 'plastic material from the injection apparatus into the mold'ia'ssociated therewith, fluidimotor means for opening and closing the mold, a fluid power circuit operatively connected to both of said'motor means a for operating the same through an advancing stroke and apush-back stroke, a briquette forming apparatus constructed'as an integral part of saidinjection' apparatus consisting of a briquetting c'ylinder.- having an opening therein communicating with said injection apparatus through which lbrique'ttes are fed. thereto and having a, pair-of plunger means therein operable in op-' position to one another which feed briquettes formed therein into 'the injection apparatus through the said Opening; independent fluid,

motor means for operating said pair of plunger means in said briquette forming apparatus to produce abriquette therein, meanshydraulically connecting the push-back side of said fluid motor of said injection apparatus with one side of each position said plunger means for receiving plastic material therebetween and means hydraulically connecting the opposite side of each of said independent'fluid motors'with the push-back side of said mold operating fluid motor to actuate the same for compressing plastic material between said plunger: means and for feeding the com- ;pressed briquette formed between the plungerv means into the injection apparatus during agontinuous stroke of' operation of said independent fluid motor means as caused by the pressure appliedthereon from the push-back side of said mold operating motor.

3; A molding machine that includes in combination, an injection molding apparatus including a mold and injection means for forcing material into the mold, fluid motor means for operating said injection means to force plastic material from the injection apparatus into the mold associated therewith, fiuidmotor means for openingand closing the mold, a fluid power circuit operatively connected to both of said motor means for operating the same through an advancing stroke and a push-back stroke, a

briquette forming apparatus constructed as an integral part of said'injection apparatus consisting of, a briquettin cylinder having an opening therein communicatin'gfwith'said injection ap paratus through which briquettes are fedthereto and having a pair of plunger meanstherein thereto andhavingrapair of plunger means therein -operable in, oppositionto one another operable in opposition to'one another which feed briquettes formed therein into the. injection apparatus throughv the said opening, independent 19' fluid motor means for operating said pair of plunger means in said briquette forming apparatus to produce a briquette therein, means hydraulically connecting the push-back side of said fluid motor of said injection apparatus with one side of each of the pair of independent motor means for operating said independent motor means together to position said plunger means 'for receiving plastic material therebetween, means hydraulically connecting the opposite side of each of said independent fluid motors with the push-back side of said mold operating fluid motor to actuate the same for compressing plastic material between said plunger means, and a stroke control mechanism for regulating the stroke of one of said independent motor means interconnected with said injection apparatus for operation thereby to regulate the stroke of the said independent motor means in accordance with the quantity of'plastic material ejected from the injection apparatus.

4. A molding machine including in combination, an injection apparatus for ejecting plastic material including a mold and an injection means for forcingmaterial into the mold, fluid motor means for operating said injection means, fluid motor means for opening and closing said mold, 'a fluid power circuit for supplying fluid under pressure to both of said motor means to operate the same through an advancing stroke and a push-back stroke and including means for maintaining the push-back pressureon the motor m'eansfor operating the injection apparatus lower than the push-back pressure onj'the'mold operating motor means, .a briquette; forming apparatus constructed asan integral part of said injection ing with said injection apparatus through which relationship to receive molding material therebetween, and fluid conductingmeans for supplying fluid under pressure applied tothe pushback side of said mold operating motor to said independent motor means sequentially to operate said independent motor means tofirst compress molding material therebetween and then feed the compressed material into the injection apparatus.

apparatus consisting l of a briquettingflcylinder having an; opening therein communicatin with said injection apparatus through which briquettes arefed thereto and having a pair or-plunger means therein operable in opposition to one another which feed briquettes formed therein into the injection apparatus through the said opening, fluid motor means for operatin said plunger means of said briquette forming apparatus, fluid conducting means for, conducting ,fluid pressure applied to the push-back side of said motor for operating said injection apparatus to said last mentioned fluid motor means to position the briquette forming apparatus in position to receive a charge of material, and fluid conducting means for conducting fluidfunder pressure applied to the push-back side of said mold operating motor to the fluid motor means for operating said briquette forming apparatusiwhereby to overcome the fluid pressure applied to said motor means from the push-back side of said injection motor and cause forming of a briquette.

5. A molding machine including in combination, an injection apparatus forejecting plastic material including a mold and an injection means for forcing material into the mold, fluid motor means for operating said injection means, fluid motor means for opening and closing said mold, a fluid power circuit for supplyin fluid under pressure to both of said motor means to operate the same through an advancing stroke and a push-back stroke and including means for maintaining the push-back pressure on the motor means for operating the injection apparatus lower than the push-back pressure on the mold operating motor means, a briquette forming apparatus constructed as an integral part of said injection apparatus consisting of a briquetting cylinder having an opening therein communicat- 6. A molding machin including in combination, an injection apparatus for rejecting plastic material including a mold and an injection means for forcing material into the mold, fluid'motor means for operating said injection apparatus, fluid motor means for openingand closing said mold, a fluid power circuit forsupplying'fluid under pressure to both of said motor means to operate the same through an advancing stroke and a push-back stroke and. including means for maintaining .the push-back pressure on the motor means for operating the I injection apparatus lower than the push-back pressure on th mold operating motor means, a briquette forming apparatus'constructed as an integral part ofv said "injection apparatus consisting of a briquetting cylinder having an opening therein communicating with said injection apparatus through which briquettes are fed thereto and having a pair'of plunger means therein operable in opposition to one another which feed briquettes formed therein into the injection apparatus through the said opening, independent fluid motor means fo r op crating said opposed plunger means in said briquette forming apparatus for vforming briquettes therein, fluid conducting means for supplying 'fluid under pressure applied to the push-back side of said injectionjmotor means concomitantly to both of said independent motor means on one side thereof to operate'the same and position said plunger, means injspaced relationship to, receive molding material therebetween, fluid conduct ing means forsupplyingfluid under pressure applied to the push-back side of said mold operating motor to said independent motor means sequentially to operate said independent motor means to first compress molding material therebetween and then feed the compressed material into the injection apparatus, and a mechanism for controlling the stroke of one of said independent motor means connected with and operated by said injection apparatus to control the stroke of the said motor means in accordance with the stroke of the injection means and thereby regulate the quantity of molding material fed between said briquette forming plunger means upon each stroke of operation of the injection apparatus.

7. A molding machine including in combination, an injection apparatus for ejecting plastic material into amold including an injection chamber in which plastic material is heated and a material receiving chamber in which fresh 7 charges ofplastic material are received an in I 'jection plunger for transferring plastic material from'the material receiving chamberto" the injectioni chamber and ejecting plastic material from the injection chamber, means 7 forming a briquetting chamber in which briquettes are .formed under pressure completely independent of said injection chamber and material receiving terial receiving chamber in which fresh charges 1 of plastic'material are received, a-mold associated; withsaid injection chamber. and including a fluid motor for operating said' mold an injecltionplunger for transferring plasticmjaterial from .thematerial receiving chamber to the in- ;je ction chamber and ejecting plasticmaterial -f-rom1 the-injection chamber, fluidmotor "means .for operating said injection plunger, meansforming" a briquetting chamber disposed adjacent said wmaterialreceivingchamber passagefmeahs ber V tween .said ibr q itting 'chamber an'd ls'aid material receiving Ichamber through i which" briquettes rareqtransferred from the briquetting cli'amberrito the material receiving chamberQfiuid motor means for operating, said .briquetting plunger, means, .means, hydraulically connecting the. ,briqu'ettin'g plunger motor means, with the push back sid jof thelinjection plunger motor means to operatelthe jection'plunger; and 1 means hydraulically con- .necting'saidabriquetting plunger, motor means with -the push .back side of said mold: operating 7 motor 'to produce a briquetting operationbysaid ,bliquettingnplunger 'concomitant with opening ofijsaidmoldi,

A el machine mowing in bah-m ti'on,Van'injectionv apparatus for ejecting plastic material into amold including an injectionch'amher in which plastic material is heated for ejecL- tiongtherefrom anda material receiving chamber toreceive fresh charges, of plastic material, an injection-plunger reciprocable; in said'material 7 receiving chamber and said. injection ,chambe means forming a' briquetting ,chamberjin which briquettes are formed under pressure completely independent of said injection'chamber andmaterial receiving chamberfand disposed adjacent said material receiving chamber and said'injection chamber, a pair of opposed plungers means reciprocable in said briquettingichamber, passage .means between said briquetting chamber and said material; receiving chamber through which briquettes are transferred, a supplychamberdisposed adjacent saidgbriquettingchamber and communicating therewith, and means for reciprocating said briquetting plungers/in said; briquetting chamber to position them in spaced rela- .tionship' beneath said supply chamber whereby to, receive plastic material therebetween from said supply: chamber; to apply pressure ,1 on the .said material between-said plungers and transfer the compressed material to said passage means for transfer into said material receiving chamben;

Y '10. A molding machine'including in combination; aninjection apparatus for ejecting plastic material into amold including an injectionchamher in which plastic material isheated for'ejection therefromand a material receiving chamber to receive fresh charges of pl astic, material,

an injection (plunger reciprocable in said materialreceiving chamber and said injection chamber, means forming a .briquetting chamber ,in which briquettes are :formed under pressure com- .pletely independent of said injection chamberand rnaterial receiving chamber andfdispo'sed. adjacent said material receiving 1 chamber and said injection. chamber, a pair of opposed. plungers means bothreciprocablein.said briquettin'gcham- .ber; passage means between; said i briquetting chamberlgand. said .materiagl .receiving lc'hamber .40 s ;briquetting'plunger ,toflreceive a charge of plastic material concomitant with'retraction of ,said inthrough which briquettes are trarisferred a supply :chaimber disposed. adjacent said briq'uetting V chamber and communicating therewith, means reciprocating both of said briquetting plungers in said briquetting chamber to, position them in spaced relationship beneath said supply chamber to compress material therebetween and trans fer the compressed material to said passage means for transfer into said material receiving chamber, and means. actuated by-movement of said injection plunger for-regulating the'position of one of said briquetting plungers to co trol the stroke thereof and determinethe spaced relationship between said briquetting plungers to con- .trol'the size of the briquette formed therebetween.

BE NARn 13; .ASHBAIlGHi 

